Ticker

Ticker

June 10, 1998

REGION

PLEASE HOLD. Chesapeake's Department of Development got 700 calls an hour on its five phone lines from people wanting to apply for First Data Resource jobs Tuesday. "We haven't been able to do anything today but answer the phones," said development director Donald Goldberg. Both of the region's daily newspapers published the department's number as the contact for information on the jobs. The city asked callers to send their resumes to FDR. The firm plans to hire 120 people when it starts up later this year, with plans to grow to 500. The Nebraska-based company embosses credit and debit cards.

DELAYED DEPARTURE. John Ritchie, executive director of the Virginia Housing Development Authority, will stay on past his planned resignation date of June 30, and remain in the job until spring. The agency said Tuesday that it will hire an executive search firm this month. The VHDA said two of its board members left, prolonging the process because the agency wants candidates to interview with board members whom they might serve. Ritchie and the VHDA drew criticism last year when it was revealed they had signed a secret agreement that would pay Ritchie $190,000 annually until June 30, 2000, two years past his original retirement date. Ritchie will serve in a new consulting position after leaving the executive director's job.

MOVING CAMP. Consolidating dual headquarters left over from last summer's merger, Fort James Corp. has moved its corporate HQ from Richmond to Deerfield, Ill. The change will not immediately affect Fort James' 250 Richmond workers, a spokesman said. Fort James was created by last summer's merger of Green Bay, Wis.-based Fort Howard Corp. and Richmond-based James River Corp. It makes Quilted Northern toilet tissue, Brawny paper towels and Dixie cups.

BIZ BITES ... North Carolina-based Highwoods Properties said its development pipeline has $475 million in projects in 14 markets, including the $9.5 million Highwoods Centre in Hampton Roads Center business park in Hampton. ... Noland Co. reported May sales of $37.3 million, nearly 5 percent less than a year ago. Year-to-date sales are also down about 5 percent.